Category — Methadone

Methadone is a synthetic opioid that has been used for the treatment of opiate/opioid dependence for decades. It was developed in Germany in 1937, and is a much cheaper alternative for both pain management and as an anti-addictive drug than most of it’s counterparts (i.e. vicodin, morphine and oxycodone).

Whether it’s a junkie who’s been shooting up heroin, or a pill-popping soccer mom, methadone has offered addicts a way to get out of their drug-seeking environment by replacing their illicit habit with a governmentally controlled substance that can be distributed at local clinics.

Because Methadone (brand names: Symoron, Dolophine, Amidone, Methadose, Physeptone, Heptadon and many others) has a longer duration of effect, patients can take the pill once a day, relieving them of their withdrawal symptoms, until the following day where they can get their next dose.

Methadone’s ability to remove the addict from the dangers of copping, shooting or popping opiates, is its main benefit, in my opinion.

However, methadone’s other benefit, the long duration of action, can be, in and of itself, an extremely difficult drug to kick. Thus, former heroin addicts become current methadone addicts, and the cycle of addiction continues.

In my next post, I’ll weight the pro’s and con’s of using methadone as both a maintenance drug and a way to detox from other opiates/opioids.